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Antiherpetic activities of flavonoids against herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and type 2 (HSV-2)in vitro

Archives of Pharmacal Research volume 28, pages 1293–1301 (2005)Cite this article

Abstract

Flavonoids, a group of low molecular weight phenylbenzopyrones, have various pharmacological properties including antioxidant, anticancer, bactericidal, and anti-inflammatory. We carried out anti-herpetic assays on 18 flavonoids in five classes and a virus-induced cytopathic effect (CPE) inhibitory assay, plaque reduction assay, and yield reduction assay were performed. When flavonoids were applied at various concentrations to Vero cells infected by HSV-1 and 2, most of the flavonoids showed inhibitory effects on virus-induced CPE. Among the flavonoids, EC, ECG (flavanols), genistein (isoflavone), naringenin (flavanone), and quercetin (flavonol) showed a high level of CPE inhibitory activity. The antiviral activity of flavonoids were also examined by a plaque reduction assay. EC, ECG., galangin, and kaempferol showed a strong antiviral activity, and catechin, EGC, EGCG., naringenin, chrysin, baicalin, fisetin, myricetin, quercetin, and genistein showed moderate inhibitory effects against HSV-1. In these experiments, flavanols and flavonols appeared to be more active than flavones. Furthermore, treatment of Vero cells with ECG and galangin (which previously showed strong antiviral activities) before virus adsorption led to a slight enhancement of inhibition as determined by a yield reduction assay, indicating that an intracellular effect may also be involved.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Immune Modulation Research Group, The School of Pharmacy, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK

    Su -Yun Lyu

  2. College of Natural Sciences, Seoul Women’s University, 139-774, Seoul, Korea

    Jee -Young Rhim & Won -Bong Park

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  1. Su -Yun Lyu
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  2. Jee -Young Rhim
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  3. Won -Bong Park
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Correspondence to Won -Bong Park.

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Lyu, S.Y., Rhim, J.Y. & Park, W.B. Antiherpetic activities of flavonoids against herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and type 2 (HSV-2)in vitro . Arch Pharm Res 28, 1293–1301 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02978215

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02978215

Key words

  • Flavonoids
  • Herpes simplex virus (HSV)
  • Cytopathic effect (CPE)-inhibitory assay
  • Selectivity index (SI)
  • Plaque reduction assay
  • Yield reduction assay
  • Vero cells